In a significant development, Goa’s Cybercrime Cell arrested three individuals in connection with a cyber fraud that targeted a 68-year-old woman from Siolim, resulting in a loss of Rs 1 crore. The arrested individuals are Visakh R (28) and Muhammadshan (29), both from Kollam, Kerala, and Roshan Mehboob Shaikh (from Chittur, Andhra Pradesh), who acted as the mule accounts agent for the fraudulent transactions.
Visakh and Muhammadshan were arrested in Kerala and brought to Goa under a transit warrant, while Roshan Shaikh was apprehended for his involvement in handling mule accounts. Police say that Rs 40 lakh of the total amount was transferred through the layer-one accounts handled by Shaikh.
The victim, Bernadette Fernandes, was tricked by the accused using digital manipulation techniques that left her under what the police describe as a “digital arrest.” The crime occurred over a series of online frauds that led to the victim’s financial loss of Rs 1 crore.
The arrest follows the earlier apprehension of 53-year-old Yaramala Venkateswarlu from Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, who was also connected to the scam.
The investigation continues as the Cybercrime Cell works to uncover more details about the operation and other individuals who may be involved.
